Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a first tray assembly defining one portion of an ice making cell, a second tray assembly defining another portion of the ice making cell, a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first and second tray assemblies, and a controller to control the heater. The refrigerator further includes a pusher including a first edge having a surface pressing at least one of the ice or the first and second tray assemblies to separate the ice from the tray assemblies, a bar extending from the first edge, a second edge disposed at the end of the bar, and a guide connection part. The controller moves at least one of the pusher and the second tray assembly to change a relative position between the pusher and the second tray assembly. The refrigerator further includes a guide slot providing a movement path of the guide connection part.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber; 
 a cooler configured to supply cold into the storage chamber; and 
 an ice maker comprising:
 a first tray having a first portion of a cell; 
 a second tray having a second portion of the cell, the first portion and the second portion being configured to define a space formed by the cell; 
 a liquid supply configured to supply a liquid to the space; 
 a driver that moves the second tray relative to the first tray such that the second portion of the second tray contacts the first portion of the first tray to form the space of the cell in an ice making process when the liquid in the space is phase-changed into ice, and that moves the second tray relative to the first tray such that the second portion of the second tray is spaced from the first portion of the first tray in an ice separation process to remove the ice from the first and second trays; and 
 a controller configured to control the cooler and the driver, 
 
 wherein the refrigerator further comprises:
 a pusher including a first edge having a surface configured to press at least one of the ice, the first tray, or the second tray to separate the ice from at least one of the first tray and the second tray, a bar extending from the first edge, a second edge disposed at an end of the bar, and a guide connection section, wherein at least one of the pusher or the second tray moves to change a position of the pusher relative to the second tray, and 
 a guide including a slot configured to determine a movement path of the guide connection section, and 
 
 wherein the guide connection section is at different positions in a horizontal direction, respectively, when the second tray is at a liquid supply position and at an ice separation position. 
 
     
     
       2. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first tray case configured to support the first tray; and 
 a bracket including a surface on which the first tray case is supported. 
 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a cover having a first surface on which the bracket is supported, a third surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a second surface connecting the first surface and the third surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator of  claim 3 ,
 wherein, when the second tray is at the ice separation position, the slot of the guide positions the second edge of the pusher between the surface of the bracket and the first surface of the cover. 
 
     
     
       5. The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the liquid supply position is between an ice making position and the ice separation position, and 
 when the second tray is at the liquid supply position, the slot of the guide positions the guide connection section between the first surface and the third surface of the cover. 
 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first tray includes a through hole, and 
 the first edge moves in a direction away from the through hole when the second tray moves from the ice separation position to the liquid supply position. 
 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein, when the second tray is at the liquid supply position, the first edge moves upward from the through hole. 
 
     
     
       8. The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first edge rotates in a direction away from the through hole when the second tray moves from the ice separation position to the liquid supply position. 
 
     
     
       9. The refrigerator of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second edge moves when the second tray moves from the ice separation position to the liquid supply position. 
 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the slot includes a first slot region in which the guide connection section is positioned when the second tray is at the ice separation position. 
 
     
     
       11. The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the slot includes a second slot region in which the guide connection section is positioned when the second tray is located at the liquid supply position or an ice making position. 
 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the second slot region is inclined with respect to the first slot region. 
 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least a portion of the guide is formed at at least one of the first tray, the second tray, or a wall defining the storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the guide connection section moves in a first direction in the slot when the second tray moves from the ice separation position to the liquid supply position, and moves in a second direction different from the first direction when the second tray moves from the liquid supply position to an ice making position. 
 
     
     
       15. The ice maker of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the guide connection section is moved by the driver, and 
 wherein the controller controls the driver to further move the guide connection section after the second tray reaches an ice making position. 
 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heater provided adjacent to at least one of the first tray or the second tray. 
 
     
     
       17. The refrigerator of  claim 1 , where the controller is configured to operate the cooler to cool at the storage chamber when the second tray is at the ice making position. 
     
     
       18. An ice maker comprising:
 a liquid supply configured to supply a liquid; 
 a tray having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion being configured to define a space to receive the liquid; 
 a driver configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion between:
 a first position where the first portion contacts the second portion to form the space, and the liquid in the space is phase-changed into ice, and 
 a second position where the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from such that the ice can be separated from the tray; 
 
 a pusher including a first edge to separate the ice from the cell; and 
 a guide including a slot to receive a portion of the pusher, 
 wherein a movement of the second portion causes a movement of the pusher, and the slot guides the movement of the pusher such that the pusher applies a force to separate the ice from the tray when the second portion moves from the first position, 
 wherein the slot includes a first slot region in which the portion of the pusher is positioned when the second portion of the tray is at the second position, and a second slot region in which the portion of the pusher is positioned when the second portion of the tray is located at the first position, and 
 wherein, when the portion of the pusher moves in the second slot region the first edge moves in a horizontal direction. 
 
     
     
       19. The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first portion includes a through hole, 
 the pusher moves away from the through hole when the second portion moves from the second position and toward the first position, and 
 the pusher is spaced from the through hole when the liquid is supplied. 
 
     
     
       20. A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber; and 
 an ice maker provided in the storage chamber or a door to open and close the storage chamber, the ice maker comprising:
 a first tray having a first portion of a cell; 
 a second tray having a second portion of the cell, the first portion and the second portion being configured to define a space formed by the cell; 
 a driver configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion between:
 a first position where the first portion contacts the second portion to form the space and the liquid in the space is phase-changed into ice, and 
 a second position where the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from such that the ice can be separated from the first and second trays; 
 a pusher including a first edge to separate the ice from the cell; and 
 a guide including a slot to receive a portion of the pusher, 
 
 
 wherein the slot includes a first slot region in which the portion of the pusher is positioned when the second tray is at the second position, and a second slot region in which the portion of the pusher is positioned when the second tray is located at the first position, and 
 wherein a distance between the first edge and a vertical central line of the cell when the portion of the pusher is positioned in the second slot region is greater than a distance between the first edge and the vertical central line of the cell when the portion of the pusher is positioned in the first slot region.